This is a two-part study. Part I is an observational study. Part II is a randomized clinical trial to see how well medical nutrition therapy works compared with standard care in treating patients with lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, or stage III or stage IV prostate cancer.

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) refers to intervention with a registered dietitian or nutrition professional. MNT is a cyclical process which includes nutrition assessment, intervention, follow-up, and reassessment. Patients will receive a total of three (3) visits with the dietitian over a six-week period with follow-up during weeks 2-3 and weeks 6-9 based on their treatment schedule.

Active Comparator: Standard care

Standard care

Behavioral: Standard Care

Standard nutritional care includes the National Cancer Institute's booklet "Eating Hints for cancer patients: before, during & after treatment".

Detailed Description:

In Part II of the study, patients are stratified according to tumor type (pancreatic vs lung vs prostate). Patients are then randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

Arm I (Medical nutrition therapy): intervention with a registered dietitian or nutrition professional. MNT is a cyclical process which includes nutrition assessment, intervention, follow-up, and reassessment. Patients will receive a total of three (3) visits with the dietitian over a six-week period with follow-up during weeks 2-3 and weeks 6-9 based on their treatment schedule.

In both arms, patients' weight, fat free mass, and Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment Score (PG-SGA) score will be assessed before, during, and after the intervention. The PG-SGA includes a patient report of symptoms and a healthcare professional assessment of medical, metabolic, and physical parameters.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosed with one of the following:

Pancreatic cancer

Lung cancer

Stage III or IV prostate cancer

Undergoing treatment at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Are undergoing chemotherapy (part 2 only)

Has lost ≥ 5% of their usual body weight in the previous 6 months (part 2 only)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Life expectancy > 60 days

Must speak and read English

Accessible in person or by phone for completing questionnaires

Not pregnant or nursing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00769652

Locations

United States, New Jersey

Cancer Institute of New Jersey at UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School